Cats are as much a part of the family as anyone else. You have to keep them from becoming infested with bugs. The article below can help you in caring for your cat. Keep reading for great tips on keeping your cat healthy.

Drape cords should be kept distant from cats. Do not let your cat play with these. If the cords are in loops and the cat jumps into them or plays with them, they could possibly get them caught around their neck. This could lead to a severe injury or even death. To prevent this from happening, keep any drape cords pinned away from any eyes.

TIP! If your cat is female, then ensure you spay her as soon as you can. You may believe that this is unnecessary if your cat stays inside all the time; however, cats almost always find a way to get outside, especially when they are in heat.

Make sure you keep all the recommended appointments with your cat’s veterinarian. Cats need special shots to keep them from getting sick, and the veterinarian will check your cats overall health. It is best to always take your cat to the same veterinarian. This way they will know your cat’s history the best.

If you’re looking for good prices on cat medications, check online sources. The prices will usually be substantially better than at your vet. Online prescriptions are not the best choice if you do not have the time to wait on a mail order, such as in a medical emergency. If you are buying cat medicine often, you can usually save up to 50% online.

Remember to take care of your cat’s ears if you travel with him. You and your cat probably have different ideas about the ideal volume for the car stereo, for instance: Remember that your cat’s hearing is more sensitive than yours. To keep you cat from feeling nervous, keep the volume at a lower level. A trip is already stressful for a pet.

TIP! Your cat can devastate your furniture with its claws. If your couch is starting to look like it’s been put through a shredder, it’s time to invest in a nice scratching post or cat tower.

Sometimes children get too excited when playing with a new cat and may mishandle them. Teach your children how to handle a cat. Demonstrate how to pick up the animal and how to play with it as well. Cats have more fragile bones than dogs so it is important to treat them with care.

Create a tablecloth that your cats can use. Some cats prefer to remove their food from the dish and eat it off to the side. This leaves food on the floor outside their bowl that must be cleaned. Use a placemat under your cat’s bowl or cut some fabric to create a small tablecloth. Shake the placemat or cloth over the garbage regularly.

You need to establish some boundaries if you are getting a cat for your children. Let your children know which rooms their cat can be in. If your have an indoor-only cat, be sure the kids understand that the cat is not to go outside. Knowing the rules ahead will help your child understand.

TIP! Keeping your cats away from the counters can be hard. They love to be able to look around from up high.

Always watch a kitten around small kids. If the child is younger than 5, don’t leave them alone with a kitten. A child of that age doesn’t realize when they are being too rough with a pet. As children get older, decide when they show the maturity to handle a small pet.

Train your cat to tolerate a pet carrier. Punishment affects cats differently from dogs. Most of the time, it is better to use positive reinforcement. Leave the door to a carrier open at all times, and make the interior enticing with a beloved toy and blanket. Cats are natural explorers and sooner or later he will check it out. This makes transporting much easier.

Feeding them lots of different foods can lower their chances of becoming finicky eaters. By feeding the cat the same kind of food over and over again, they become used to that specific food. Good luck getting it to try something new!

TIP! Use quality food to prevent crystals from forming in a cat’s urine. Your cat will experience considerable pain when he has to pass these crystals, and it’s not an easy (or cheap) problem for your veterinarian to fix.

Is there cat hair all over every surface in your home? Cats shed quite often, so make sure that you brush them a lot. The more hair you see on the ground, the more you should pull out the brush. This will prevent your cat’s coat from getting matted or tangled.

Just like all cats in the world, yours is just as susceptible to contracting parasites. These pests will stay on your cat unless you do something about it. You can get rid of them and even prevent them when you use the featured methods. Your cat will be happy that you did.